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I don’t know how many of you will care about this, but it’s potentially devastating to me. Harry Shearer just tweeted that he’s leaving The Simpsons. Shearer’s contract negotiation talks reportedly broke down, and he’s said to have wanted a larger percentage of merchandising revenue. Shearer is an integral and irreplaceable part of The Simpsons, the longest running sitcom in the US. The Simpsons will air its 27th season starting this fall and it’s unclear how it will go on without Shearer. He’s the voice of Ned Flanders, Mr. Burns, Smithers, Principal Skinner, Lenny, Dr. Hibbert, Reverend Lovejoy, Kent Brockman, Rainier Wolfcastle and Otto among many others. I really hope this is just some kind of negotiation tactic, because if it’s true I don’t know how my family’s favorite show will continue. Here’s what Shearer tweeted.

from James L. Brooks’ lawyer: “show will go on, Harry will not be part of it, wish him the best.”. (1/2)

— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) May 14, 2015

This because I wanted what we’ve always had: the freedom to do other work.
Of course, I wish him the very best. (2/2)

— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) May 14, 2015

Thanks, Simpsons fans, for your support.

— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) May 14, 2015

This wouldn’t be the first time The Simpsons have lost a cast member in contract negotiations. In 2000 they killed off Maude Flanders when voice actress Maggie Roswell asked for a raise to cover her travel costs to LA. Roswell eventually reached an agreement with producers that she could work from home and she returned to the show in 2002. She’s the voice of Luann Van Houten, Helen Lovejoy, Miss Hoover and Maude Flanders (in flashbacks and dream sequences). The Simpsons also sadly lost Marcia Wallace, the voice of Edna Krabappel, when she passed away from complications from cancer in late 2013.

I’m hoping that Fox is just playing hardball with Shearer and that they’ll work out some sort of agreement with him to stay on. If he’s off the show, it definitely won’t be the same. They’re not going to be able to write off all those characters and I doubt they’ll be able to replace him convincingly. It would be a huge relief to hear that this announcement was premature and that Shearer and Fox have worked out a deal. Otherwise I have to tell my son about it and I’m dreading that.

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